challenges within spyware removal

Hello, I have been working on the whole spyware removal for 2-3 days now, and have some questions. I have read and followed the tutorial up until switching to following chaslang's directions. I have been able to download and run most things. I have run into problems in both the tutorial and chaslang, in that when I try to open windows explorer, my computer, my documents, or anything related to getting onto drive c:, nothing happens. the hard drive looks like it's trying, and for 30 seconds or so I can not activate anything with the arrow, then the icons disappear only to return with full function - other than getting into explorer, my computer, etc.

So unfortunately, I'm at a loss, because I can't work the directions to fix the problem. Have I done something irretrevable? I can't remember exactly when this began, but I know I couldn't get in when I began the tutorial. Any ideas on what I have done, or how to access explorer to finish trying to clean my hard drive, would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, I am very - but getting better - computer illiterate. I can tell you I'm running on XP, whatever was considered a good computer a year and a half ago. I have more space than I know what to do with. I can still run/access everything else, just can't reach the areas I need to fix this horrible spyware. I definitely have the about:blank, only the best infection. the one program I can't run is about:Buster, it does the same thing as when I try to access explorer.

I hope this helps at all, I appreciate any input you all have on this.
Erin

 

Thank you for getting back to me. No, the start, run option didn't work for explorer. My problem, is I cannot get to HiJackThis to run it. Would I run it the same way, going through start and run? I have saved it per instructions, but cannot access it any way that I know of. And I'm a little confused on the log, does that create itself when the program is run? I'm sure these are simple questions, but I'm at a complete loss. Thanks again! Erin

 

Hi again, just went and tried to run hijackthis through the start and run, gave me the same problem, doesn't do anything than the desktop blanks out and comes back normal. Am I looking at wiping my system and starting over?